Thousand Islands Parkway
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The Thousand Islands Parkway (often written as 1000 Islands Parkway) is a
scenic Scenic may refer to: * Scenic design * Scenic painting * Scenic overlook * Scenic railroad (disambiguation) * Scenic route * Scenic, South Dakota, United States * Scenic (horse), a Thoroughbred racehorse Aviation *Airwave Scenic, an Austrian par ...
parkway A parkway is a landscaped thoroughfare.''"parkway."''Webster's Third New International Dictionary, Unabridged. Merriam-Webster, 2002. http://unabridged.merriam-webster.com (14 Apr. 2007). The term is particularly used for a roadway in a park or ...
in the
Canadian Canadians (french: Canadiens) are people identified with the country of Canada. This connection may be residential, legal, historical or cultural. For most Canadians, many (or all) of these connections exist and are collectively the source of ...
province of
Ontario Ontario ( ; ) is one of the thirteen provinces and territories of Canada.Ontario is located in the geographic eastern half of Canada, but it has historically and politically been considered to be part of Central Canada. Located in Central Ca ...
. It extends easterly from an interchange with
Highway 401 King's Highway 401, commonly referred to as Highway 401 and also known by its official name as the Macdonald–Cartier Freeway or colloquially referred to as the four-oh-one, is a controlled-access 400-series highway in the Canadian provin ...
in
Gananoque Gananoque ( ) is a town in the Leeds and Grenville United Counties, Leeds and Grenville area of Ontario, Canada. The town had a population of 5,383 year-round residents in the 2021 Canadian census, 2021 Canadian Census, as well as summer resident ...
for approximately to rejoin Highway401 near the community of Butternut Bay, west of
Brockville Brockville, formerly Elizabethtown, is a city in Eastern Ontario, Canada, in the Thousand Islands region. Although it is the seat of the United Counties of Leeds and Grenville, it is politically Independent city, independent of the county. It i ...
. The parkway follows the north shore of the
St. Lawrence River The St. Lawrence River (french: Fleuve Saint-Laurent, ) is a large river in the middle latitudes of North America. Its headwaters begin flowing from Lake Ontario in a (roughly) northeasterly direction, into the Gulf of St. Lawrence, connecting ...
, and was formerly designated Highway2S (''S'' for Scenic) until 1970. It passes through the communities of Gray's Beach, Halsteads Bay, Ivy Lea,
Darlingside Darlingside is a four-person indie folk band from Boston, MA. The band consists of Don Mitchell, Auyon Mukharji, Harris Paseltiner, and David Senft. Their style has been described as “exquisitely-arranged, literary-minded, baroque folk-popâ ...
, Rockport,
Narrows A narrows or narrow (used interchangeably but usually in the plural form), is a restricted land or water passage. Most commonly a narrows is a strait, though it can also be a water gap. A narrows may form where a stream passes through a tilted ...
,
La Rue Mills LA most frequently refers to Los Angeles, the second largest city in the United States. La, LA, or L.A. may also refer to: Arts and entertainment Music * La (musical note), or A, the sixth note * "L.A.", a song by Elliott Smith on Figure 8 ( ...
and Mallorytown Landing, as well as providing access to the three inland properties of the
Thousand Islands National Park Thousand Islands National Park (established 1904), formerly known as the St. Lawrence Islands National Park, is a Canadian National Park located on the 1000 Islands Parkway in the Thousand Islands Region of the Saint Lawrence River. The islands a ...
. Highway 137, which meets the parkway near its midpoint, provides access to the
Interstate 81 in New York Interstate 81 (I-81) is a part of the Interstate Highway System that runs from I-40 at Dandridge, Tennessee, to the Thousand Islands Bridge at Wellesley Island in New York, beyond which the short Ontario Highway 137 (Highway 137) li ...
via the
Thousand Islands Bridge The Thousand Islands International Bridge (french: Pont des Mille-îles) is an American-maintained international bridge system over the Saint Lawrence River connecting northern New York in the United States with southeastern Ontario in Canada. Co ...
. The Thousand Islands Parkway was constructed as a
divided highway A dual carriageway ( BE) or divided highway ( AE) is a class of highway with carriageways for traffic travelling in opposite directions separated by a central reservation (BrE) or median (AmE). Roads with two or more carriageways which are ...
during the late 1930s, alongside the Thousand Islands Bridge, which opened in 1938. Originally known as the St. Lawrence River Road, the parkway was signed as part of Highway401 when the
400-series highway The 400-series highways are a network of controlled-access highways throughout the southern portion of the Canadian province of Ontario, forming a special subset of the provincial highway system. They are analogous to the Interstate Highway ...
system was established in 1952, but was bypassed by the current Highway401 alignment to the north in 1968. The Highway2S designation returned between 1967 and 1970, after which jurisdiction over the parkway was transferred to the St. Lawrence Parks Commission. The northern
carriageway A carriageway (British English) or roadway (North American English) consists of a width of road on which a vehicle is not restricted by any physical barriers or separation to move laterally. A carriageway generally consists of a number of tra ...
of the parkway was never paved, and was only in use by vehicles between 1938 and 1951. Evidence of its former use can be seen today in the wide
right-of-way Right of way is the legal right, established by grant from a landowner or long usage (i.e. by prescription), to pass along a specific route through property belonging to another. A similar ''right of access'' also exists on land held by a gov ...
; the unused westbound lanes now serve as a
recreational trail Cycling infrastructure is all infrastructure cyclists are allowed to use. Bikeways include bike paths, bike lanes, cycle tracks, rail trails and, where permitted, sidewalks. Roads used by Motor vehicle, motorists are also cycling infrastructu ...
and
twin bridges Twin bridges are a set of two bridges running parallel to each other. A pair of twin bridges is often referred to collectively as a twin-span or dual-span bridge. Twin bridges are independent structures and each bridge has its own superstructur ...
span two locations along the parkway.


Route description

The Thousand Islands Parkway is a scenic route along the St. Lawrence River between Gananoque and Brockville through the rugged terrain of the Frontenac Arch, a protrusion of the
Canadian Shield The Canadian Shield (french: Bouclier canadien ), also called the Laurentian Plateau, is a geologic shield, a large area of exposed Precambrian igneous and high-grade metamorphic rocks. It forms the North American Craton (or Laurentia), the anc ...
southward into
New York New York most commonly refers to: * New York City, the most populous city in the United States, located in the state of New York * New York (state), a state in the northeastern United States New York may also refer to: Film and television * '' ...
state. In this area, the soil is underlain by layers of
Paleozoic The Paleozoic (or Palaeozoic) Era is the earliest of three geologic eras of the Phanerozoic Eon. The name ''Paleozoic'' ( ;) was coined by the British geologist Adam Sedgwick in 1838 by combining the Greek words ''palaiós'' (, "old") and ' ...
limestone Limestone ( calcium carbonate ) is a type of carbonate sedimentary rock which is the main source of the material lime. It is composed mostly of the minerals calcite and aragonite, which are different crystal forms of . Limestone forms whe ...
and a granite
bedrock In geology, bedrock is solid Rock (geology), rock that lies under loose material (regolith) within the crust (geology), crust of Earth or another terrestrial planet. Definition Bedrock is the solid rock that underlies looser surface mater ...
. The granite often extends above the ground surface as large rock outcroppings. The Thousand Islands Parkway was part of the original alignment of Highway401. However, because of the residential properties and the scenic nature of the route, a new inland route was constructed through the mid-1960s. A
recreational trail Cycling infrastructure is all infrastructure cyclists are allowed to use. Bikeways include bike paths, bike lanes, cycle tracks, rail trails and, where permitted, sidewalks. Roads used by Motor vehicle, motorists are also cycling infrastructu ...
follows the
right-of-way Right of way is the legal right, established by grant from a landowner or long usage (i.e. by prescription), to pass along a specific route through property belonging to another. A similar ''right of access'' also exists on land held by a gov ...
of the westbound
carriageway A carriageway (British English) or roadway (North American English) consists of a width of road on which a vehicle is not restricted by any physical barriers or separation to move laterally. A carriageway generally consists of a number of tra ...
, which was never completed. The Thousand Islands Parkway begins at a split with Highway401 on the outskirts of Gananoque. There is no access from westbound Highway401 to the parkway nor from westbound on the parkway to eastbound Highway401. However, immediately east of the split, both highways interchange with the sole remaining portion of Highway 2 under provincial jurisdiction. East of this point the three diverge into the Frontenac Arch. It meets Highway137 at an interchange at the parkways midpoint; the Ontario approach to the Thousand Islands Bridge which continues as Interstate 81 south of the
Canada–United States border The border between Canada and the United States is the longest international border in the world. The terrestrial boundary (including boundaries in the Great Lakes, Atlantic, and Pacific coasts) is long. The land border has two sections: Can ...
. The parkway continues northeast, serving the riverside communities of
Darlingside Darlingside is a four-person indie folk band from Boston, MA. The band consists of Don Mitchell, Auyon Mukharji, Harris Paseltiner, and David Senft. Their style has been described as “exquisitely-arranged, literary-minded, baroque folk-popâ ...
, Rockport,
Narrows A narrows or narrow (used interchangeably but usually in the plural form), is a restricted land or water passage. Most commonly a narrows is a strait, though it can also be a water gap. A narrows may form where a stream passes through a tilted ...
,
La Rue Mills LA most frequently refers to Los Angeles, the second largest city in the United States. La, LA, or L.A. may also refer to: Arts and entertainment Music * La (musical note), or A, the sixth note * "L.A.", a song by Elliott Smith on Figure 8 ( ...
and Mallorytown Landing. At Butternut Bay, the Thousand Islands Parkway merges into the eastbound lanes of Highway401 and a left-hand exit provides access to the parkway from westbound Highway401. The three inland properties of Thousand Islands National Park are located on the Thousand Islands Parkway: Landon Bay, Mallorytown Landing and Jones Creek.


History

The idea for a scenic parkway along the shoreline of the St. Lawrence between Gananoque and Brockville was first proposed by
George Fulford George Taylor Fulford (6 May 1902 – 15 December 1987) was a Canadian businessman and politician who served as a Liberal party member of the House of Commons of Canada. Fulford was born in Brockville, Ontario, and he became an executive ...
, a local Member of Provincial Parliament (MPP) elected in the 1934 Ontario general election to represent
Leeds Leeds () is a city and the administrative centre of the City of Leeds district in West Yorkshire, England. It is built around the River Aire and is in the eastern foothills of the Pennines. It is also the third-largest settlement (by populati ...
. By 1935, with early construction underway on the Thousand Islands Bridge, Fulford had convinced the incoming Minister of Public Works and Highways,
Thomas McQuesten Thomas Baker McQuesten (June 30, 1882 – January 13, 1948) was a politician in Ontario, Canada. He was a Liberal member of the Legislative Assembly of Ontario from 1934 to 1943 who represented the riding of Hamilton—Wentworth. He served as a ...
, of the merits of a scenic route for tourism and as a depression relief project. McQuesten, who was seeking to build a trans-provincial divided highway, decided the river road would be the ideal route through the rough terrain between Gananoque and Brockville. On April29, 1937, The Ontario Department of Highways (DHO), predecessor to the modern
Ministry of Transportation A ministry of transport or transportation is a ministry responsible for transportation within a country. It usually is administered by the ''minister for transport''. The term is also sometimes applied to the departments or other government ag ...
, formally announced the building of the St. Lawrence River Road. It was built under two separate contracts. Work on the first, awarded to Campbell Construction to build the section between Gananoque and Ivy Lea, began the week of June7, 1937, while work on the second, awarded to Standard Paving Company to build the section between Ivy Lea and Butternut Bay, began the week of September12. Standard Paving was already widening of Highway2 between Butternut Bay and Brockville at the time. On August18, 1938, the Thousand Islands Bridge was opened, with an attendance of over 50,000 people. Prime Minister Mackenzie King and President
Franklin D. Roosevelt Franklin Delano Roosevelt (; ; January 30, 1882April 12, 1945), often referred to by his initials FDR, was an American politician and attorney who served as the 32nd president of the United States from 1933 until his death in 1945. As the ...
both presided over the ceremonies. In preparation, the portion of the parkway west of Ivy Lea was quickly gravelled to provide access to the new bridge. Only the between the Ivy Lea and the bridge approach remained open following the ceremonies, however; traffic to and from the bridge accessed Highway2 via what is now Fitzsimmons Road. A section between Mallorytown Landing and Butternut Bay was opened in October 1938 as a two-lane gravel road with a temporary bridge crossing Jones Creek. Elsewhere, construction resumed on blasting rock and grading the route for several more years. A contract to build the bridges at Jones Creek was awarded on May25, 1940, and completed by the end of the year. The bridges at Landon Bay meanwhile, were completed in late October 1940. In 1941, the St. Lawrence River Road was completed and opened to traffic from Gananoque to Brockville, though it remained unpaved. Labour and material shortages during World War II resulted in road construction being deferred for several years. Following the war, the south lanes of the road were paved between Gananoque and Rockport in 1946. The unpaved north lanes were opened to travel beginning in 1946. They remained in service until 1951, when they were closed to traffic; they would not reopen. By 1948, the St. Lawrence River Road, or "Scenic Highway", had been assigned the route number 2S, with the "''S''" for "''scenic''", and the remainder of the south lanes between Rockport and Butternut Bay had been paved. In July 1952 (possibly July 1, the same day Highway400 was numbered), Highway2S was designated as part of the new Highway401. For the next 18years, Highway401 travelled along the scenic river road. Initially it merely bypassed Highway2; it would not see extensions west of Gananoque and east of Butternut Bay until 1959. That year saw the south lanes of the parkway rebuilt and marked as a proper two-lane
undivided highway A single carriageway (British English) or Undivided highway (American English) is a road with one, two or more lanes arranged within a one carriageway with no central reservation to separate opposing flows of traffic. A single-track road has a ...
. As originally envisioned by McQuesten, the trans-provincial freeway would follow the scenic highway. However, in the decades since, numerous properties and a tourist industry were established. James Auld, MPP for Leeds and the Minister of Tourism and Information, joined local residents to persuade the DHO to construct an inland bypass. The DHO agreed, stating that it would cost less to build a new freeway than to upgrade the parkway. Construction of the Thousand Islands Bypass began in 1965, with work proceeding east from Gananoque. The Thousand Islands Parkway was the final two-lane segment of Highway401. A portion was opened on September1, 1967, from Gananoque to Highway137, which was itself built south to the parkway at the same time. The Highway401 designation was applied along this new route, while the bypassed portion of the parkway was redesignated as Highway2S. Despite the expected influx of traffic from the United States for
Expo 67 The 1967 International and Universal Exposition, commonly known as Expo 67, was a general exhibition from April 27 to October 29, 1967. It was a category One World's Fair held in Montreal, Quebec, Canada. It is considered to be one of the most su ...
in Montreal, the DHO opted to build the portion east of Ivy Lea after the centennial celebrations. The remainder of the bypass was opened to traffic on October11, 1968, at which point the entire parkway once again became Highway2S. This designation would also only last for just under two years. On September8, 1970, the DHO transferred jurisdiction over the parkway to the St. Lawrence Parks Commission; it has since been known only as the Thousand Islands Parkway. This name was first brought forward to the DHO in 1954 by the Thousand Island–Rideau Lakes Association.


Major intersections

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Explanatory notes


References


Bibliography

*


External links


Thousand Islands Parkway – Length and Route
{{Ontario King's Highways Geography of Leeds and Grenville United Counties 1938 establishments in Ontario Parkways in Ontario Thousand Islands St. Lawrence Parks Commission